Travelling – Telling the stories – Women First
Plato – ‘Those who tell the stories rule society’
‘Storytelling is in all of us. It’s a natural human response to the experience of living and witnessing. It’s how we talk to one and other and how we feel like we belong to something bigger and wiser than ourselves. It’s instinctive and powerful and foolishly underrated.3
This story is about Australia’s First Female Governor General - Quentin Bryce.
A prolific storyteller, letter writer and humanitarian.
Have you ever listened to someone and felt completely captivated by their presence? Their energy, authenticity and quiet determination seem to fill the room. And when you finally snap out of their hypnotic aura, you find yourself making a simple, common-sense observation: “She dresses with style and elegance.”
That’s exactly how I felt about Quentin Bryce.
During one of her visits to Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel in East Timor, a soldier was overheard asking, “Which one’s the Governor-General?” The answer: “The granny in the pink dress.”
If it’s good enough for the ADF to comment on her attire, then I can too - only I’ll say it with admiration.1
A Country Girl with a National Calling
Quentin Bryce grew up in the small rural town of Ilfracombe, Queensland, a community-centred upbringing that shaped her throughout her life. In fact, she often joked that her husband Michael was amazed by her ability to weave the town’s name into almost every speech!
She graduated in 1965 from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws, later being admitted to the bar.
What followed was a distinguished career that spanned academia, law, community service, human rights, and eventually the highest office in the country. Her work has always come from the heart and from a genuine desire to stand up for others.
Some of Her Notable ‘Firsts’
Lecturer & Tutor in Law, University of Queensland (1968–1983)
Convenor, National Women’s Advisory Council (1982–1984)
Inaugural Director, Queensland Women’s Information Services (1984–1987)
Director, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Queensland (1986–1988)
Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, HREOC (1988–1993)
Founding Chair and CEO, National Childcare Accreditation Council (1993–1996)
Principal and CEO, The Women’s College, University of Sydney (1997–2003)
Governor of Queensland (2003–2008)
First State Visit by an Australian Governor-General to Malta (2008)
Governor-General of Australia (2008–2014)
Throughout her roles, she travelled widely, listening to the concerns of communities and championing the importance of ‘neighbourliness’ - not just in times of disaster, but as a constant practice.
Quentin Bryce was known for personally responding to most of her correspondence - whether from world leaders, community members, or children she met along her journeys.
The Power of Women’s Voices
In her 2013 Boyer Lecture, Watching the Women: The Powerful Role of Women in Leading Reform, she quoted then-Westpac CEO Gail Kelly on leadership:
"Soft-wiring the storytelling, the role modelling, the recognition systems, the cultural interventions, the calling out of behaviours and subtle biases - the elephants in the room."
As Governor-General, Bryce believed Australia’s international role had grown in step with its self-confidence as a nation, stating:
"As the world becomes ever more complex, the need for high-level representation is increasingly expected."
Her overseas visits included:
UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva (1989)
Afghanistan
Solomon Islands
Papua New Guinea
South Korea
Za'atari Refugee Camp, near the Syrian border
Aboriginal women in Fitzroy Crossing, WA
Pauyaya women in Cape York
Asylum Seekers Resource Centre, Melbourne
Indigenous girls from Girls from Oz in Halls Creek, WA
Australian Antarctic Division
She dined and worked with a diverse range of people: royalty, heads of state, global leaders like Pope Benedict XVI and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as well as everyday Australians making a difference in their local communities. 4
What Does a Governor-General Do?
Constitutional Duties:
Presides over the Federal Executive Council
Appoints ministers
Dissolves Parliament
Issues writs for elections
Grants royal assent to bills
Ceremonial Duties:
Attends official functions
Welcomes foreign dignitaries
Bestows Australian honours
Represents Australia at national events
Acting on Advice:
Almost always acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and ministers
Reserve Powers:
Rarely used, but allows action without or against ministerial advice in times of political crisis
In her final speech as Governor-General, she said:
"I have been inspired and uplifted by the service and selflessness of our citizens—transforming their lives and transforming all our lives."
And in true outback spirit, she signed off with a story from the Windorah Ball, where a man at the bar, sizing her up in her broad Barcoo hat, said:
"Listen love, why don’t you pour yourself a couple of rums and settle down."
Life After Yarralumla
By August 2015, Quentin Bryce was back in Queensland, working from a sunlit office at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), surrounded by gardens and the cheerful calls of kookaburras and blue wrens. She often joked that people would bet on what colour she’d be wearing each day - a conversation starter she thoroughly enjoyed.
She embraced her new roles, serving as patron, ambassador and board member for countless organisations, particularly those supporting women, public health and the arts.
Some of her many commitments include:
National Foundation for Australian Women
National Pioneer Women’s Hall of Fame
Australian Women Donors Network
National Organisation for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Breast Cancer Network Australia
Leukaemia Foundation of Australia
Assistance Dogs Australia
Katrina Dawson Foundation
Australian Girls Choir
She also led a Queensland taskforce to address domestic violence, travelling the state to listen, learn and advocate for meaningful change.
When asked if she missed the pomp and ceremony of Yarralumla, she replied:
"Things have a season. I have no regrets about not being there, but I treasure the memories and the incredible experiences."
And yes - when asked if she might write her memoir someday?
"Sometime."
A Woman Who Made a Difference
Quentin Bryce was a woman in a role traditionally held by men. Did she triumph? Absolutely.
She embodied the belief that the strength of a nation lies in the education and empowerment of its women.
What a legacy to leave behind.
1 book- ‘Dear Quentin – Letters of a Governor General ‘
3 book -Boyer Lectures 2023 – Back to Grassroots
2 Australian Financial Review – interview with Tony Walker 24th August 2015.
4 Maddie Bartlett lost her sister, her Mum & Dad, her classmates and her home in the horrific bush fires 2009. She suffered agonising burns to her face and body. Endured multiple complex operations. 5 months later she lived with her Grandparents and visited Government House and wrote to Quentin often.
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